Owners of an iconic Mumbles cafe have been left “devastated” after being hit by a fire overnight.
Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service were called to Verdi’s in the early hours of Thursday morning (30 July) following reports of an incident at Mumbles Road in Swansea.
The blaze has forced the cafe to close until further notice, in the peak summer holiday months.
Known for its panoramic views of Swansea Bay, Verdi’s is popular for its ice cream and authentic Italian food.
It was operated by the Moruzzi family for generations before being taken over by the Hole family in 2023.
A social media post on the cafe’s page said the family are “coming to terms” with the fire and will be working quickly to get the site reopened.
“We know how much the restaurant means to our team, our customers and the Swansea community, and we’re incredibly grateful for all of the messages of support already,” they wrote.
In a statement, a spokesperson for Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service said:
“At 2.09am on Thursday, July 30, the Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service crews from Swansea West, Swansea Central and Port Talbot Fire Stations were mobilised to an incident at Mumbles Road in Swansea.
“The crews responded to a fire within a commercial property measuring approximately 14 by 20 metres. The fire was confined to the property’s kitchen and toilet area.
“The crews utilised four breathing apparatus sets, two hose reel jets, one thermal imaging camera and one gas monitor to extinguish the fire. Crews left the scene at 4.44am.”
“The cause of the fire has not yet been identified.”
In a post on social media, Welsh Labour MP for Swansea West, Torsten Bell, said:
“Just awful to hear about the fire at the iconic Verdi’s cafe last night, at their busiest time of year. The one blessing is that no one was hurt.
“The Secret Hospitality Group have been going from strength to strength in recent years, including a groundbreaking partnership with Gower College which provides important opportunities for young people wanting to get into the hospitality sector.
“I hope the business bounces back as quickly as possible – Swansea Bay won’t be the same until Verdi’s is back in operation.”
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